Absolutely no problem towing with a properly equipped 1/2-ton truck, Rams among them if that's your preference for whatever reasons.
IMO payload rating is what you'll want to be attentive to, just making sure that the specific truck optioned the way you want has adequate capacity for your load.
Having long experience with your current rig puts you in a great position to ensure you get a suitable 1/2-ton truck for the
actual payload you normally carry when camping with your 5.0.
You can
- load your 2500 and trailer with everything you normally take on your trips including gear, people, and pets. Head to a CAT scale to get your truck's axle weights (on a CAT scale that's steer axle + drive axle; ignore the trailer axle weight for this purpose).
- then take the truck alone without the gear, people, and pets you load in the truck for camping trips, and get that weight
- top-up your fuel tank for both weights for maximum comparative accuracy
The difference between the two truck weights is
your actual real-world 'payload' when using your trailer the way you travel, and that is what you want to accommodate with whatever new truck you get.
(my F150 has a payload rating of 1848# which is quite adequate for my real-world travel loading)
IMO / IME the 5500# GTWR (at most, and almost certainly well-under that in your actuality) isn't a concern with a 1/2-ton truck meeting your payload requirements, their brakes, suspension, etc are quite sufficient for relaxed and safe towing of our 5.0 trailers. You will of course want to choose an engine with adequate power, and plenty are available to meet that need.
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I think Donna may be a bit high on her 'F150-bias' estimate, but yeah, they do seem very popular. Perhaps that's just reflective of Ford's overall market share, perhaps that's a function of some of Ford's particular 'towing-friendly' features. If I were you I'd look at the entire market with an open mind, and if RAM still pushes the buttons you prefer, go Ram!
(I happen to have an F150 as much as anything because I'm a long-time ford-guy)
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Insofar as 5.5 ft vs 6.5 ft boxes .... IME a 6.5 ft box will assuredly allow you to back into a 90° jackknife without cab conflict. A 5.5 ft box
may allow that or will allow you to get
very close to that crazy severe bend (depends on the exact hitch type and placement in the 5.5 ft box).
You've been towing a 5.0 for a long time, how often have you really needed to 'bend your rig' that severely?
IMO either box is very suitable for comfortably towing a 5.0. IMO the choice should be based on whether or not you need the space for 'stuff' you carry in the box, and the overall length (a function of cab-style and box length) of the truck you prefer to drive, park, and garage.
(I happen to have a 6.5 ft box because of other non-towing needs and the overall length with a an 'extended' / not 'crew' -cab works for me)
All just for your consideration, happy shopping and happy trailering!
